Cindy's Summer Reading List
a summer of adventure with cindy
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love nothing more than adventure and travel. Whitewater rafting in Idaho? Yes! Camping in the BWCA? Absolutely! Scuba diving in Roatan? Sign me up! Mountain biking in Moab? Let’s go!
Inspired by a recent article in Artful Living highlighting Laura Schara’s Summer Adventure Reading List, I thought it would be fun to gather up some of my favorite books that always get me ramped up for my next wilderness experience. Here are a few of my favorites:
north to the pole
Will Steger & Paul Schurke
“Follow Will Steger and Paul Schurke, along with six others and 49 dogs, as they set out to complete the first ever confirmed "unsupported" expedition to the North Pole.”
Will Steger is perhaps the most notable polar explorer of our time, and we are so lucky to call him a fellow Minnesotan. I am a proud supporter of the Steger Center in Ely, MN and never miss a chance to hear Will speak, see any of his films, or read any of his books. North to The Pole is a great read about just one of his epic journeys; the 1986 unsupported expedition to the North Pole, along with seven other people and 49 sled dogs.
If you enjoy this book, you should also check out the documentary After Antarctica which documents his expedition across Antarctica in 1989. Neither voyage could happen today sadly, because of the melting of the polar ice caps.
hudson bay bound
Natalie Warren
“The remarkable eighty-five-day journey of the first two women to canoe the 2,000-mile route from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay. Unrelenting winds, carnivorous polar bears, snake nests, sweltering heat, and constant hunger. Paddling from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho faced unexpected trials, some harrowing, some simply odd.”
A true story about two women from St. Olaf College who paddle a canoe 2000 miles over 85 days from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay in 2011. This was the first time anyone had retraced the epic trip since the original voyage in 1935 by Eric Sevareid. Really inspiring and even more special because they launch from the Minnesota River and travel north through the state along many familiar small towns.
epic hikes of the world
Lonely Plant
“With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the World will inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. From one-day jaunts and urban trails to month-long thru-hikes, cultural rambles and mountain expeditions, each journey shares one defining feature: being truly epic.”
This is a beautiful coffee table book that is great to pick up any time and dream about my next hiking adventure. On my list: The «W» in Patagonia, The Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, and the ultimate: le Tour du Mont Blanc which takes you through France, Switzerland and Italy over the course of approximately 110 miles. In preparation, I will be taking a 40 mile thru hike on the Superior Hiking Trail in July with my friends.
And if you are in the mood for more adventure, here are a few more books that Cindy recommends.
A YEAR IN THE WILDERNESS
Amy and Dave Freeman
“Since its establishment as a federally protected wilderness in 1964, the Boundary Waters has become one of our nation’s most valuable—and most frequently visited—natural treasures. When Amy and Dave Freeman learned of toxic mining proposed within the area’s watershed, they decided to take action—by spending a year in the wilderness, and sharing their experience through video, photos, and blogs with an audience of hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens.”
the girl outdoors
Sian Anna Lewis
“An adventure guide in book form, The Girl Outdoors offers support and knowledge, empowering the reader, whether she's thinking about cycling the length of Vietnam or just needs help fixing her bike.”
All purchase links are to Strive Bookstore, Downtown Minneapolis’ newest book shop. Learn more about Strive at the link below, or visit them at their location in the IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Suite 254.